In vitro regeneration of salt-tolerant plants

Abstract

An increase in global population and the demand for food production have steered the direction of research toward production of plants that can give better yields even with adverse environmental conditions. One such is the generation of salt-resistant plant varieties that would grow on saline soil and holds the possibility of irrigation with seawater. An upsurge in soil pollution accompanied by depleting water reserves warrants the production of salt-resistant crops as the next step in meeting the global demand for food. Plant tissue culture not only offers the advantage of culturing a large number of cells in a small space but also provides options for genetic transformation and selection. The present review attempts to summarize the various developments in the area of plant tissue culture for regeneration of salt-resistant varieties.